When Miller’s mother Chloe was pregnant, she was found to carry Group B Strep (GBS), but only by chance.
“I was told that as long as I had antibiotics during labour, Miller would be okay,” she recalls. “But nobody explained the symptoms or the dangers of what could happen if he caught it.”
When labour began, things did not go as planned. Although she should have received intravenous antibiotics during labour because GBS had been found during her pregnancy, they were not given in time before Miller was born.
Initially, everything appeared fine. But over the following days, Chloe became increasingly concerned about her newborn son.
“His breathing didn’t seem right. He developed a blotchy rash, was difficult to wake for feeds and wasn’t feeding well”. Just four days after he was born, Miller became critically ill. “He went grey and was sucking in at the ribs.”
Miller was rushed back to hospital where doctors immediately began investigating the cause of his illness. Blood cultures and a lumbar puncture were performed, and Miller was started on antibiotics before the results were confirmed. The tests revealed that Miller had developed Group B Strep meningitis.
“No one ever prepares you for seeing your tiny baby so poorly. It was traumatic and heartbreaking.”
Miller spent two and a half weeks in hospital while doctors treated the infection. Thankfully, because treatment had been started quickly, he gradually recovered.
Looking back, his mother believes that learning about Group B Strep symptoms may have saved his life. Before Miller was born, she had found the Group B Strep Support website while researching and trying to understand more about it.
“I found the website online before my baby had been born because I was learning more about the symptoms, and I’m so grateful I did because that saved my baby’s life.” Knowing what to look for gave her the confidence to trust her instincts when Miller became unwell and to seek urgent medical help.
The experience has left a lasting impact on her family. “I feel since this I’ve become such an anxious parent.”
Today, however, they are incredibly grateful for the outcome. “We are incredibly grateful our boy is now happy and healthy.”
